Sunshine Economy

2:13 am

Thu March 20, 2014

Before making beer in Palm Beach, Mike Halker served on a bomb squad with the U.S. Army. That cool under pressure has served him well as the founder and head of Due South Brewery, a craft-beer company based in Boynton Beach.

Mon December 9, 2013

When you think "culinary district," does Oakland Park come to mind? Do you think about Oakland Park at all? Maybe you should, as the community seems to be on its way to developing a downtown area based on food culture.

Thu November 21, 2013

Just east of the I-95 in Wynwood, on Northwest 24th Street, you'll notice a new, bright-orange mural is in the works. It's not a famed, European street artist's Art Basel-commissioned piece. It's Wynwood Brewing Company's way of welcoming Basel throngs to Miami's first brewery.

Combine two hot-weather refreshments, beer and ice cream, and you get a beer milkshake. Depending on your perspective, this beverage may sound either intriguing or alarming, but two restaurants in the Keys pull of the mash-up successfully.

Politics

9:00 am

Sun January 27, 2013

Yesterday was a big day for bars and restaurants in Oakland Park. After a unanimous commission vote last week, the city lifted its law prohibiting the sale of alcohol between 7 a.m. and noon on Sunday mornings.

Oakland Park is the latest in a string of cities (including Fort Lauderdale, Margate and Deerfield Beach) to repeal their so called "blue laws.”

Hooligans Rule!

You can make an argument that Oakland Park’s blue law repeal started with a group of English hooligans who wanted to watch their European soccer matches.

Artists won’t be the only ones getting international exposure at Art Basel Miami Beach this year. Some Florida breweries might share the spotlight as well at the first annual Basel Biergarten.

Alongside “The Factory” art show, Wynwood Cigar Factory (101 NW 24th St.) is hosting a pop-up beer garden which will serve Florida brews exclusively. It’s an example of the many things that have grown up around Art Basel over the past ten years.